•  
  •  
 

Abstract

Cities are places full of symbols. In the past decades, Indonesian cities have become the cradle of urban symbolism studies. In this article, the author presents the results of these studies. The cities researched differ tremendously, ranging from the national capital to provincial capitals and small towns; some of them, such as Jakarta, are purely colonial in origin, while others are more or less traditional in character. Some of them have a top-down symbolic structure, largely the product of government activities, while others have symbolic configurations which have a more grassroots character and are based in the religious domain. The methodological aspect of urban symbolism fieldwork is explored by the introduction of the concept of fl neur.

References

Bakker, E. and K. Saentaweesook. 2011. ”Jakarta through poetry”, in: Peter J.M. Nas (ed.), Cities full of symbols; A theory of urban space and culture, pp. 217-240. Leiden: Leiden University Press.

Baudelaire, Charles. 1995. The painter of modern life and other essays. London: Phaidon Press. [Original 1863.]

Benjamin, W. 1991. Das Passagen-Werk, Gesammelte Schriften, Band V-1. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkampf. [Written between 1927-1940.]

Burms, A. 2008. “Natuur en symbool”, Ethische Perspectieven 18-3: 327-340.

Caljouw, M., P.J.M. Nas, and Pratiwo. 2005. ”Flooding in Jakarta; Towards a blue city with improved water management”, Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land-, en Volkenkunde 161-4: 454-484.

Colombijn, F. 1994. Patches of Padang; The history of an Indonesian town in the twentieth century and the use of urban space. PhD thesis, Leiden University.

De Giosa, P. 2011a. ”Urban symbolism in Yogyakarta; In search of the lost symbol”, in: Peter J.M. Nas (ed.), Cities full of symbols; A theory of urban space and culture, pp. 85-106. Leiden: Leiden University Press.

De Giosa, P. 2011b. ”Kudus and Blitar; A tale of two Javanese iconic cities”, in: Peter J.M. Nas (ed.), Cities full of symbols; A theory of urban space and culture, pp. 197-216. Leiden: Leiden University Press.

De Giosa, P. 2011c. “Urban symbolism and social cohesion in Kupang and Dili: A tale of two Timorese cities”. MA thesis, Leiden University.

Evers, H-D. 2011. “Urban symbolism and the new urbanism in Indonesia”, in: Peter J.M. Nas (ed.), Cities full of symbols; A theory of urban space and culture, pp. 187-196. Leiden: Leiden University Press.

Goebel, R.J. 1998. “Benjamin’s flâneur in Japan; Urban modernity and conceptual relocation”, The German Quarterly 71-4: 377-391.

Grijns, K. 2000. “JABOTABEK place names”, in: K. Grijns and Peter J.M. Nas (eds), Jakarta-Batavia; Socio-cultural essays, pp. 211-228. Leiden: KITLV Press.

Hazel Hahn, H. 2006. “Du flâneur au consommateur; Spectacle et consommation sur les Grands Boulevards, 1840-1914”, Romantisme 134-4:67-78.

Hoek, I. 2005. “De urbane symbolische ecologie van Yogyakarta”. MA thesis, Leiden University.

Leeuwen, R. van. 2011. ”A touch of tragedy; Pre- and post-tsunami symbolism in Banda Aceh, Indonesia”, in: Peter J.M. Nas (ed.), Cities full of symbols; A theory of urban space and culture, pp. 153-172. Leiden: Leiden University Press.

Nas, P.J.M. 1990. ”Jakarta, stad vol symbolen; Met Leiden als contrast”, Antropologische Verkenningen 9-3: 65-82.

Nas, P.J.M. 1992. ”Jakarta, city full of symbols; An essay in symbolic ecology”, Sojourn 7-2: 175-207.

Nas, P.J.M. 1993. ”Tatanan simbolik Jakarta; Dari kosmos ke kondominium”, JIIS, Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Sosial 4: 55-68.

Nas, P.J.M. 1995. ”The image of Denpasar”, in: Peter J.M. Nas (ed.), Issues in urban development; Case studies from Indonesia, pp. 164-192. Leiden: Research School CNWS. [CNWS Publications volume 33.]

Nas, P.J.M. (guest ed.). 1998. “Special issue; Urban rituals and symbols”, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 22-4: 539-622.

Nas, P.J.M. 2003. ”Ethnic identity in urban architecture; Generations of architects in Banda Aceh”, in: R. Schefold, P.J.M. Nas, and G. Domnig (eds), Indonesian houses Vol. 1: Tradition and transformation in vernacular architecture, pp. 133-154. Leiden: KITLV Press.

Nas, P.J.M. 2007. ”Jakarta kota kaya akan simbol; Esai tentang ekologi simbolis”, in: Peter J.M. Nas, Kota-kota Indonesia; Bunga rampai, pp. 525-557. Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press.

Nas, P.J.M. and M.A. van Bakel. 1999. ”Small town symbolism; The meaning of the built environment in Bukittinggi and Payakumbuh”, in: B. Jezernik (ed.), Urban symbolism and rituals; Proceedings of the international symposium organised by the IUAES Commission on Urban Anthropology, Ljubljana, June 23-25, 1997, pp. 173-190. Ljubljana: Oddelek za etnologijo in kulturno antropologijo, Filozofska fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljana.

Nas, P.J.M. and P. De Giosa. 2011. “Conclusion; Feeling at home in the city and the codification of urban symbolism research”, in: Peter J.M. Nas (ed.), Cities full of symbols; A theory of urban space and culture, pp. 283-292. Leiden: Leiden University Press.

Nas, P.J.M., M. de Groot, and M. Schut. 2011. ”Introduction; Variety of symbols”, in: Peter J.M. Nas (ed.), Cities full of symbols; A theory of urban space and culture, pp. 7-26. Leiden: Leiden University Press.

Nas, P.J.M., R. Jaffe, and A. Samuels. 2006. “Urban symbolic ecology and the hypercity; State of the art and challenges for the future”, in: P.J.M. Nas and A. Samuels (eds), Hypercity; The symbolic side of urbanism, pp. 1-20. London: Kegan Paul.

Nas, P.J.M. and R. Sluis. 2002. ”In search of meaning; Urban orientation principles in Indonesia”, in: P.J.M. Nas (ed.), The Indonesian town revisited, pp. 130-146. Münster: Lit Verlag; Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Ponsioen, J. 1952. Symboliek in de samenleving. Utrecht: Erven J. Bijleveld.

Schulte Nordholt, A. 2008. ”Georges Perec; Topographies parissiennes du flaneur”, Relief 2-1: 66-86.

Taal, S. 2003. Between ideal and reality; Images of Palembang. PhD thesis, Leiden University.

Download

Share

COinS